Zenit Saint Petersburg are keen to see Manuel Pellegrini take over from Andres Villas-Boas as their manager next summer.

The Manchester City boss has a contract until 2017 with the club, but there has been widespread speculation that the Citizens are looking to rope in outgoing Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola for next season.




Zenit are also preparing for life after Villas-Boas as the Portuguese has said that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season and they are scouring the market for suitable candidates.

And according to Russian outlet L!feNews78, the club are interested in appointing the Manchester City boss as their next manager before the start of the new season.
 


With the Guardiola shadow looming large, the Chilean could be shown the door at Manchester City at the end of the season and Zenit are keen to snap up the Premier League winning manager.

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Pellegrini joined Manchester City in 2013 and has won the league title and the League Cup thus far with the club.

He has also managed Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga in Europe and Zenit feel his ability to speak both Spanish and English could be a big benefit when it comes to adapting to managing the players at the club.